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FBI believes the University of Alabama basketball player knew his mother's plans

Alabama forward Devonta Pollard (24) shoots the ball during the second round of the NIT on March 23. FBI agents believe that University of Alabama basketball player Devonta Pollard knew that his mother planned to kidnap her cousin's daughter from a Mississippi elementary school in April and say that he gave a ride to a woman who later dropped the child off in rural Mississippi.

File | Robert Sutton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 2:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 2:38 p.m.

FBI agents believe that University of Alabama basketball player Devonta Pollard knew that his mother planned to kidnap her cousin's daughter from a Mississippi elementary school in April and say that he gave a ride to a woman who later dropped the child off in rural Mississippi.

Pollard, 18, is one of seven people charged in the kidnapping of 6-year-old Jashayla Hopson from East Kemper Elementary School on April 30. He was one of six who appeared before a U.S. Magistrate judge Wednesday morning on conspiracy to commit kidnapping charges after being arrested Tuesday. His bond was set at $10,000.

A trial in the case is set for Aug. 6 before U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour Jr.

According to Associated Press reports, Jesse Mae Pollard kidnapped the girl as part of an ongoing land dispute involving the child's mother.

The four-count indictment charging the seven defendants was released Wednesday by U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. According to the document, Jesse Pollard spoke with school secretary Wanda Faye Dancy, 52, who told her that Jashayla was in the school library and what she was wearing. Pollard sent Shamarious Ruffin, 25, into the school, where she told the girl's teacher that “Miss Wanda said it was all right” to take her, according to the indictment.

The indictment states that Devonta Pollard met with his mother and Ruffin in a church parking lot earlier that day. He delivered a screwdriver and wrench to them before Ruffin told him “we fixin to do some crazy s---,” the indictment states.

Pollard and Ruffin then traveled to Bessemer in a rental car with the Jashayla and Ruffin's infant, according to the court documents, where they bought a cell phone and checked into a hotel.

Devonta Pollard then drove to Boligee in Greene County, where he picked up Shaquayla Johnigan, 21, of Porterville, Miss., according to the indictment. He drove her to Bessemer, it stated, where he dropped her off at the hotel. Johnigan then took the girl to a hotel in Laurel, Miss., the indictment stated.

He called her the next day to say that his mother had been summoned by authorities to take a lie detector test, according to the document. Following Jesse Pollard's instructions, Johnigan had sent a text message demanding $50,000 from the girls' mother, the indictment stated. Agents said that she then broke the phone and placed it in a gym bag, which she later gave to James Johnigan, 39, who is accused of destroying it.

The indictment states that Shaquayla Johnigan then called Joyce Johnigan, 42, and the two drove Jashayla to a remote location in Vossburg, Miss. where they told “her mom was in a trailer and to run up to it.”

They are accused of then running the rental car into a ditch and throwing the keys in a pond.

<p>FBI agents believe that University of Alabama basketball player Devonta Pollard knew that his mother planned to kidnap her cousin's daughter from a Mississippi elementary school in April and say that he gave a ride to a woman who later dropped the child off in rural Mississippi.</p><p>Pollard, 18, is one of seven people charged in the kidnapping of 6-year-old Jashayla Hopson from East Kemper Elementary School on April 30. He was one of six who appeared before a U.S. Magistrate judge Wednesday morning on conspiracy to commit kidnapping charges after being arrested Tuesday. His bond was set at $10,000.</p><p>A trial in the case is set for Aug. 6 before U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour Jr.</p><p>According to Associated Press reports, Jesse Mae Pollard kidnapped the girl as part of an ongoing land dispute involving the child's mother.</p><p>The four-count indictment charging the seven defendants was released Wednesday by U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. According to the document, Jesse Pollard spoke with school secretary Wanda Faye Dancy, 52, who told her that Jashayla was in the school library and what she was wearing. Pollard sent Shamarious Ruffin, 25, into the school, where she told the girl's teacher that “Miss Wanda said it was all right” to take her, according to the indictment. </p><p>The indictment states that Devonta Pollard met with his mother and Ruffin in a church parking lot earlier that day. He delivered a screwdriver and wrench to them before Ruffin told him “we fixin to do some crazy s---,” the indictment states.</p><p>Pollard and Ruffin then traveled to Bessemer in a rental car with the Jashayla and Ruffin's infant, according to the court documents, where they bought a cell phone and checked into a hotel. </p><p>Devonta Pollard then drove to Boligee in Greene County, where he picked up Shaquayla Johnigan, 21, of Porterville, Miss., according to the indictment. He drove her to Bessemer, it stated, where he dropped her off at the hotel. Johnigan then took the girl to a hotel in Laurel, Miss., the indictment stated. </p><p>He called her the next day to say that his mother had been summoned by authorities to take a lie detector test, according to the document. Following Jesse Pollard's instructions, Johnigan had sent a text message demanding $50,000 from the girls' mother, the indictment stated. Agents said that she then broke the phone and placed it in a gym bag, which she later gave to James Johnigan, 39, who is accused of destroying it.</p><p>The indictment states that Shaquayla Johnigan then called Joyce Johnigan, 42, and the two drove Jashayla to a remote location in Vossburg, Miss. where they told “her mom was in a trailer and to run up to it.”</p><p>They are accused of then running the rental car into a ditch and throwing the keys in a pond.</p>